Twin Brothers: Worlds Apart
Autism and Asperger’s Syndrome
From the Perspective of an Affected Person
By Kevin Healey
Copyright 2008 Kevin Healey
Smashwords Edition
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This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without the written permission of Kevin Healey and the publisher Staffordshire Adults Autistic Society (SAAS).
Please also visit www.saas.uk.com
Sponsors:
SAAS
(Staffordshire Adult Autistic Society)
PO Box 2977,
Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire, ST55 9DN
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Nuffield
Hospital – North Staffordshire
Clayton Road,
Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire, ST5 4DB
-- : --
Michelin
Tyre Public Limited Company
Campbell Road, Stoke-on-Trent, ST4
4EY
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All book
sales from my Autobiography will goto Charity:
80% to (SAAS)
Staffordshire Adults Autistic Society
20% to (ARC) Autism
Research Centre in Cambridge
Two Brothers: Worlds Apart
You never seem to have much time to spare
Now it’s your world you want to share.
If only I could take away your anxiety
From all around you in society.
Too many things for you to take in
It seems to you the whole world is in a spin.
Sometimes you get misunderstood
Even by those who know you better, they really should.
I’m sorry I didn’t understand some of the time
Although it seems now it’s your turn to shine.
I’m sorry for all the times I shouted
So many times, I’m sure you counted.
I remember how I didn’t like the rocking
Even more, I hated the mocking.
Mum told me kids could be cruel
Only now they are not at school.
I wouldn’t want to change the people you are
Even though it’s been a rollercoaster ride so far
Because I love you both for who you are.
By Julie Healey, April 2006 ©
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Julie read this poem at my conference in May 2006. It was the first time she ever got up on stage and spoke. Thanks Julie, you are my special sister and I love you so much.
Your brother, Kevin
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(The title of this book was taken from Julie Healey’s poem)
Acknowledgments
I would like to thank the following people, without whom this book would never have been possible:
To Mum and Dad. You have loved and cared for me and my twin brother Shaun. You have always been there for us throughout our lives. You both hold a special place in our hearts. Love always, Kevin and Shaun.
To Mark, my older brother. Thank you for being there for me throughout my childhood and teenage years. You protected me in many ways.
To Julie, my loving sister, who is a very special person that I love dearly. I thank you for your love and understanding.
To my twin brother Shaun. We live in separate worlds, so far apart, but we will always be one.
To the members of SAAS. You show that the existence of a support group in Staffordshire is necessary and entitled.
To Professor Simon Baron-Cohen. To this day I cannot thank you enough for all your support, help, and guidance, and mainly for my crucial diagnosis of Asperger’s syndrome. As an appreciation of your help, 20 % of the book sales will be donated to the ARC (Autism Research Centre) in Cambridge.
To Elisabeth Hughes. A sincere thank you. You are a very dear friend who has helped me to make this book possible. I thank you for your understanding and patience, and the time that you have dedicated to me since we became friends. A lady I can never thank enough.
To James, William, and Adrian, my very special friends at SAAS (Staffordshire Adults Autistic Society). I thank you for all your help; you have helped people with a special condition and had the chance to become a part of our society. Thank you for your courage to step out of your world for people in need.
To Paul Titterton. A special thank you for spending time creating the design for the cover for my book. - paul_john@hotmail.com
To Stephanie Rodgers, I thank you for your professional help in proofreading my book.
To the ones who show me the power of enthusiasm, and for all their help and advice.
To BBC. Thanks for your permission. Information was taken from www.bbc.co.uk/health
Contents
Autism and Asperger’s Syndrome
Why do people become depressed?
Helping someone who's depressed?
Post-traumatic stress disorder
Misunderstandings and Bullying
Crystals and alternative medicine
How ASD Services Improved in Stoke-on-Trent
Message to professional people
Background Information
Asperger’s syndrome is one of the autistic spectrum disorders, which cause communication and emotional problems. To people with these disorders the world can appear chaotic with no clear boundaries, order or meaning.
People with Asperger’s syndrome are usually more mildly affected than those with autism. In fact, many people with milder symptoms are never diagnosed at all.
There are three main aspects to Asperger’s syndrome:
Difficulty in social relationships – people with Asperger’s syndrome often enjoy or want to develop social contacts but find mixing with others very hard. In particular, they have problems with:
* Understanding non-verbal signals such as body language, gestures, facial expressions and tone of voice
* Obsessions with particular objects or routines
Difficulty with communication – although they may be able to speak fluently, sometimes there are difficulties judging or understanding the reactions of those they are talking to.
Common problems include:
* Failing to notice the body language of others
* Appearing insensitive to the feelings or views of the listener
* Continually talking, unaware of the listener's interest
* Appearing over-precise in what they say
* Taking comments literally (for example, misunderstanding jokes, metaphors or colloquialisms)
Lack of imagination and creative play – children with Asperger’s syndrome are often of average or above intelligence, and may be particularly good at learning facts and figures. However they may also lack imagination and find creative play or thinking in the abstract very difficult. This means they may be particularly good at topics such as maths or history, but struggle with subjects such as philosophy, religious education or creative arts.
An early diagnosis is important as this will help the individual and those affected understand and appreciate the syndrome and find the right sort of support.
Because the syndrome varies, some children manage in mainstream schools especially if extra support is available. However, even when children cope well academically, they may have problems socialising and are likely to suffer teasing or bullying. More severely affected children need the specialist help provided by schools for children with learning disabilities.
There is no specific treatment for Asperger’s syndrome, although drugs may be used for associated symptoms such as obsessional behaviour or depression. However, many other things can be helpful including:
* Behavioural therapy
* Appropriate specialist education
* Social skills training
As they get older, children with Asperger’s syndrome may become aware they are different from others. This can lead to a sense of isolation or depression, especially if they have trouble building a circle of friends. Helping them develop some insight into the condition is an important step towards adjusting to, or at least coping with, the way the rest of the world works.
With the right sort of support and encouragement, many with Asperger’s syndrome can lead a relatively normal life. Some do very well, especially in an environment or job where they can use their particular talents.
Dr Trisha Macnair
http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/conditions/autism2.shtml
Autism and Asperger’s Syndrome
Autism and Asperger’s syndrome are part of a range of disorders that cause communication and emotional problems. To people with these disorders the world can appear chaotic with no clear boundaries, order or meaning.
Autism and Asperger’s syndrome belong to a group of conditions that can vary from very mild, where the person can function as well as anyone else around them, to so severe that they are completely unable to take part in normal society.
People with autism are usually more severely disabled, while those with Asperger’s syndrome tend to be more able, although this isn’t always so. Because of the range of severity and symptoms, the conditions are collectively known as autistic spectrum disorders.
The cause of autistic spectrum disorders is not yet clear. Genetics play an important role, and researchers are examining a number of chromosome sites that could be implicated.
It's likely autism occurs when a small number of genes interact in a specific way, possibly linked to some external event or factor. Brothers or sisters of a child with the condition are 75 times more likely to develop it. This genetic link means there may be an inherited tendency, so autism and Asperger’s syndrome may run in families.
Doctors' ability to diagnose these disorders has improved in recent years, but older people, particularly with milder problems, may never have been diagnosed.
When a child is diagnosed, parents often realise they’ve had the same problems themselves.
A variety of other environmental factors that affect brain development before, during or soon after birth, also play a part (possibly acting as a trigger).
However, despite reports suggesting a possible link between MMR vaccination and autistic spectrum disorders, scientific evidence has confirmed the vaccination does not increase the risk.
The main three symptoms are:
* Difficulties with social interaction – being unaware of what's socially appropriate, finding chatting or small talk difficult and not socialising much (people with autism find it very difficult to develop friendships and relate to others)
* Problems with verbal and non-verbal communication – understanding gestures, body language, facial expressions and tone of voice, making it difficult to empathise with people's feelings
* Imagination impairments – such as not enjoying or taking part in role-play games
These behavioural difficulties can cause a great deal of stress for members of the family.
Babies who develop autism later may appear normal at first and reach the usual developmental milestones, including early speech. But as they grow into toddlers, they may fail to develop normal social behaviour and speech may be lost.
As a child grows, the typical difficulties of autistic spectrum disorders are:
* Repetitive behaviour and resistance to changes in routine
* Obsessions with particular objects or routines
* Poor coordination
* Difficulties with fine movement control (especially in Asperger’s syndrome)
* Absence of normal facial expression and body language
* Lack of eye contact
* Tendency to spend time alone, with very few friends
* Lack of imaginative play
Autism tends to produce more severe symptoms. For example, a child with autism may fail to develop normal speech (the development of spoken language is usually normal in Asperger’s syndrome) and as many as 75 % of people with autism have accompanying learning disabilities.
Seizures are also a common problem, affecting between 15 and 30 % of those with autism.
Conversely, autistic children are sometimes found to have an exceptional skill, such as an aptitude for drawing, mathematics, or playing a musical instrument.
It's estimated that more than 580,000 people in the UK have autistic spectrum disorders.
Boys are more likely to be affected than girls, though research suggests that when girls have the condition they may be more severely affected.
There's no specific test for autistic spectrum disorders. Diagnosis is based on a consideration of symptoms, and milder cases may be missed.
Appropriate specialist education, speech, language and behavioural therapy are all important. There is no specific cure or particular medical treatment for autism, but much can be done to maximise a child’s potential and this is key to managing the condition. Appropriate specialist education, speech, language and behavioural therapy are all important. There are many different approaches, some of which are based around theories about possible causes of autistic spectrum disorders (for example, the Son-Rise programme).
While many people feel they've achieved good results with some of these interventions, none of them is a cure-all, and many lack scientific evidence to demonstrate their benefits. Others claim dietary changes or alternative remedies have helped, but these, too, are mostly unproven. Medication is sometimes recommended when it's felt to be of benefit to the child, for example to control seizures, depression or other symptoms.
As the precise events that lead to autistic spectrum disorders aren't yet known, it isn't possible to prevent them. Neither is there yet a simple screening test to identify people carrying genes that might increase susceptibility to autism.
Dr Trisha Macnair
http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/conditions/autism1.shtml
Depression is an illness that makes people feel sad and miserable over a long time.
While most people occasionally feel down, severe depression (sometimes called clinical depression) makes coping with everyday life difficult. It affects your work, relationships and even the more basic aspects of life, such as appetite and sleep. It sometimes makes people feel suicidal.
As many as one person in three will experience an episode of depression at some point in their life – this means it's extremely likely someone close to you will become depressed at some point.
Depression is a complicated problem, which is often hidden behind physical illness. This can be confusing because, for example, chronic pain can cause depression and depression can cause chronic pain. There are often symptoms of other psychological problems, such as anxiety, panic attacks, obsessions or phobias, which mask the depression.
Depression is associated with many symptoms. Common symptoms include:
* Feeling low, sad or miserable
* Persistent tearfulness
* Not enjoying or getting pleasure from life
* Loss of interest in life, even in favourite hobbies or sports
* Sleep disturbance – most typical is waking unusually early and not being able to get back to sleep, or roaming around all night and day unable to sleep at all, or never getting out of bed
* Appetite disturbance – either increased or decreased, including either weight gain or weight loss
* Feeling useless, hopeless or helpless
* Tiredness and fatigue
* Low self-esteem/confidence
* Feeling anxious, agitated or tetchy
* Extreme placidity, which may go as far as physical slowing down
* Poor libido
* Over-sensitivity
* Poor concentration, memory and motivation
* Constant physical problems with no return to feeling well despite treatment
* Suicidal thoughts and ideas
Why do people become depressed?
Depression is believed to be caused by disturbances in body chemistry. This physical change can be triggered by disease and illness, by traumatic, stressful events such as bereavement, illness and retirement, or by work, relationship and financial problems.
If you need help now:
* Talk to your doctor or find another health professional in the practice that you think you can relate to
* Talk to a friend, work colleague or teacher – don't bottle up
* Contact the Samaritans or a self-help group
There are several different types of depression: simple depression, bipolar disorder (also known as manic depression), seasonal affective disorder and postnatal depression.
Often depression has no obvious cause. It can affect anyone at any time in their life, even during childhood, although it's more common in mid-life. At any one time, about one in 20 people has clinical depression. Women are twice as likely as men to be diagnosed with depression. Although many experts believe equal numbers of men and women are likely to experience depression.
Depression is the result of an interaction of genes and environment (this is called a multifactorial disease). The interaction is complex but some people appear more vulnerable to the effects of stressful life events, perhaps because of their genetic make-up.
Given the wrong set of life events almost anyone can become depressed (although a few people appear to be strikingly resistant to depression), but depression can run in families. Studies on twins show that genetics play a considerable part in depression. Prenatal screening is not possible for depression.
Although it's often not possible to prevent depression, many people find that an understanding of their disease and its possible triggers can help to keep their depression at bay. Strengthening emotional wellbeing can help.
This is done by:
* Getting enough rest and learning how to relax
* Using therapies such as yoga and massage
* Exercising regularly
* Avoiding too much alcohol, smoking and illegal drugs
* Eating a balanced healthy diet
* Talking about feelings, problems and concerns with a trusted friend
In the majority of cases, depression can be successfully treated. Counselling is used to treat mild depression and is often combined with antidepressant medication when the depression is more severe.
In mild cases, some people use the herb St John's wort, but talk to your doctor if you are taking other medication, because it can make some other medicines less effective. Exercise is now recommended as an effective way of helping people to overcome depression.
Despite this, the World Health Organisation estimates that by 2020, major depression will be the second biggest cause of death and disability in the world. One of the main problems is that as many as 50% of people stop taking their treatment within six weeks, which is too early to prevent relapse.
Helping someone who's depressed?
People who are depressed can find it very hard to admit they have a problem and ask for help. Be aware of any changes in your friends and family that you think may point to depression. If you're worried about someone, give them plenty of appropriate opportunities to talk. It can be difficult to start, but try questions such as 'have you got anything on your mind?' or 'is there something bothering you at the moment?' Let them pick the moment when they want to open up.
Invite those who seem isolated to join in social events, and keep inviting even if they keep refusing, which they may well do – people who are depressed often don't feel like socialising, or feel their contribution won't be of value.
Try to understand and accept what they say or even how they act, and help them explore possible ways to sort out their problems. Be as supportive as you can, learn about the condition, and don't expect them to snap back to their old self overnight. Don't be afraid to talk about suicide, or ask if they've thought about it. Despite what most people believe, focusing on suicide isn't likely to encourage someone to do it.